No. 14-seeded Andrea Petkovic won her third title of the year on Sunday at the Family Circle Cup, defeating unseeded Jana Cepelova 7-5, 6-4. “When I was down facing set point [in the first set], I just told myself, ‘You gotta let loose and you gotta relax a little bit because otherwise you’re not going to win this match,’” Petkovic said. “And so I relaxed, and I started hitting the ball harder and deeper, and I started moving better, and I started serving better.”

Petkovic has had a rough last 1-1/2 years with back and ankle injuries, missing much of the first half of 2013. “I was just so relieved and proud that I’ve come back from all these injuries,” said Petkovic who broke down in tears after the final. “I never thought I would play in the finals of the big tournaments again, and so I was just proud and happy and everything just sort of came together.”

Cepelova beat world No. 1 Serena Williams in the second round, and beat qualifier Belinda Bencic in the semis. Petkovic to gain the final defeated No. 6 seed Genie Bouchard from a set down.

Ivanovic Wins All-Serb Final for Monterrey Title

Ana Ivanovic won the all-Serbian final at the Monterrey Open in Mexico, defeating unheralded Jovana Jaksic 6-2, 6-1 for the title.

It was her second WTA title ofthe year after Auckland and 13th of her career.

Jaksic before the week had won only one career WTA main draw match. Ivanovic improved to 13-5 in WTA finals.

DAVIS CUP QUARTERFINALS

Czech Republic d. Japan 5-0Radek “The Worm” Stepanek and Lukas Rosol for the Czechs sweep a Japanese team that was without Kei Nishikori due to injury. The Czechs will travel to France for the semifinals. “My players play together and fight for their country,” said Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil, who was without top player Tomas Berdych. “It is always an honor to play Davis Cup.”

France d. Germany 3-2
After being stunned in the first two singles and trailing 0-2, France comes back with wins in the doubles by Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau to start the charge. On Sunday Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beats Tobias Kamke in straights, and then Gael Monfils defeats Germany’s No. 119-ranked Peter Gojowczyk to seal the deal. “I knew on Friday evening when we were 2-0 up that it was going to be difficult to win the whole tie,” said German captain Carsten Arriens. “I think the French players — Tsonga and Monfils — had two days to think about what’s going to happen.”

Italy d. Britain 3-2
The Italians steal it on Sunday when Fabio Fognini upsets Andy Murray in straights, and then Andreas Seppi tops James Ward in straights. Italy will travel to Switzerland for the September semifinals. “He’s a very good player, especially on this surface,” said Murray after losing his first Davis Cup singles match in nine years against Fognini. “I knew it was going to be a tough one and I wasn’t quite able to play well enough.”

Switzerland d. Kazakhstan 3-2
After Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka were upset in the Saturday doubles, the Swiss needed to win both Sunday singles to stay alive, and that they did. Wawrinka came from a set down to beat Mikhail Kukushkin, and Federer finished the job with a straight-set win over Andrey Golubev. “I was confident, but not silly confident, but respectful confident towards the opponent,” Federer said. “I just felt I was playing such great tennis the last six months that I would find a way as well and I did. It’s a relief but it was a great feeling.”